Stylus.



II. L. GIBSON.l

STYLUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 29, I9I3- yh. JPane Mar. EIS, IJIh'.

E Ifimr I 1jr-4 I A J/ jf l 1 ENTOR. WITNESSES. lzw/ rial noisnnr i.. Giesen,

0F EHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

sirLUs.

` To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ROBERT L. GIBSON, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city and county of Philadelphia and State` of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Styli, of which the followingis a specification. Y

l he present invention relates to a stylus for sound recording machines adapted to produce a sound record or phonogram in the form of a raised ridge or ribvvhich may beused as a mold' (directly or indirectly) to form on a plate or disk of suitable matea Acomplementary groove adapted for the reproduction of sound in the usualsound reproducing machines.

The stylusis particularly adapted for use in connection 'with the apparatus'shown in my application 809,188, filed December 29th, 1913, for carrying out the process described in my application 809,187, filed December 29th, 191s. A

The stylus consists of a hollow tube having a vibratory portion adapted to vibrate under the impulseof sound Waves and terminating in avery small orifice. When the stylus is used for the process of application 809,187, above referred to, the orifice is of y microscopic size, smaller than a capillary duct, so that the material ejected through it is an extremely line thread. or stream much smaller in cross section than the ridge or is understood rib which is formed, the latter being produced by the building up of the material upon itselfby ejecting the fluid through the stylus much more rapidly than the surface upon which it is deposited moves. `When it that in practice the finished phonautographic'ridge is preferably only .005 of an inch in Width and .0025 of an inch 'in height and that the stream ejected through the stylus has a cross section much less than such a ridge, the microscopic dimensions of the orifice Will be appreciated.

Owing to the niinuteness of the orifice it is necessary that the material which is `ejected through it shuld be thoroughly strained as even the most minute particle of solid matter Would clog the orifice and rendei the stylus inoperative. To obviate this I provide the stylus with filtering material and as the material is forced through the stylus under very great pressure this ilten ing material is very highly compressed.

Specification oi Letters Patent.

diameter terminating in the orifice c.

Patented Mar. no,

Application file December 29, 1913. y Serial Ito. 809,186.

I have found that a stylus suitable to the purpose can best be formed of glass which can be drawn to a fine vibratory end terminailing/in an orifice` of microscopic dimensions While the upper part may be left sufiiciently large to containthe filtering material, and I prefer that construction.

The invention also embraces the combination with the stylus proper of the nipple or means to which it is secured and by which it may be attached tothe machine.

Further objects and advantages are set forth hereinafter when referring to the accompanyin drawings, in which Figure 1 is anxenlarge vertical .section of the stylus and its support showing the preferred construction; Fig. 2 is a side elevation with parts in section showing the stylus attached to theI apparatus in which the record making material is contained and connected with a recording sound box; Fig. 3 is a top view of the stylus; and Fig. d is a detail viewshowing a modified form of the means for bracing the vibratory portion of the stylus.

The hollow stylus a is provided with a fine tubular vibrator. portion e operated by the impulses transmitted to it by the vibrations imparted by sound waves to the diaphragm of a recording instrument b. 'g

The stylus is preferably made of ay blown; and drawn glass tube shaped in the form shown in v Fig. 1, comprising an enlarged chamber or bulbous portion c at the top partially closed by the inwardly directed flange c', an' intermediate portion d with substantially parallel sides ei, and a fine 'vibratory portion e gradually tapering and containing an axial bore e of decreasiriig o protect this slender portion e as much possible and to prevent it from vibrating in any plane other than that in which it is moved by the impulses from the sound box,

.l rind it of advantage to employ a brace j" plat.e with which the thimble is coupled.V

closed at its lower end by an inwardly directed flange g3, having a central opening slightly larger than the outside diameter of the portion Z of the stylus. Fitting closely about said section lZ are one or more washers it, preferably of asbestos, and above the washers is a ferrule la', preferably of lead Qor other relatively soft metal, or metal alloy, apertured to receive and support the stylus while its periphery is threaded for engagement with the threads g2, whereby the lferrule is screwed down Ato firmly secure the washers L in place.

The stylus is filled with any suitable filtering material z', such as cotton or other fibrous substance, under suitable compression, and this is held in the stylus and the stylus in place by porous washers IZ of felt or the like, which in turn are firmly pressed downwardly by a cap y' provided with a cen tral aperture j. The cap is forced downward by a spring Z: tensioned by a plug Z recessed at Z and screwed into the top of the thimble y, The plug Z is providedwith a central aperture Z, which connects with the passage m leading from a source of supply'(not shown) of the record making material. The thimble g is removably secured to the supporting head or plate by a couplino' n having a central aperture and embracing the flange gl on the upper edge of lsaid thimble.

To protect said coupling and thimblea substantially cylindrical shield 0 is provided, which is secured to the supporting head or To surround and directly protect said stylus, an inverted conical shield p is secured to the outside of' the shield 0 and this is provided with a central aperture p through which the stylus extends, while a second aperture p2 in one side permits a direct. connection between the stylus and the diaphragm of the recording instrument Z), said connection extending in a plane at right angles to the plane of the brace f.

-While the invention is not limited to the process of forming and applying the stylus, I consider the following to be the simplest and most convenient manner of carrying out the same: The glass tube is first blown to produce the bulbous end c; after the tube is lilled with the cotton or other filtering material rf, it is introduced into the thimbleg with the shank projecting through the ferrule '/t and washers L. The spring with the plug Z, cap y' and the washers z" are then applied and the plug Z is screwed down to fasten the glass tube securely in place; The lower end of the tube is then heaterLand drawn to form the fine vibratory portion c. As the pressure at the top is applied through the cap j and the Washers z", and thecon'- l tact of the shank at the swelling of the bulbous end is with the soft lead ferrule ZL,

the tube may be firmly secured Without fracture, and when it is thus secured, the lower end e may be drawn in the manner described to an exceedingly fine point.

y A modified form of support and guide for the vibratory portion of the stylus is shown in Fig. et, in which the brace f is omitted and in place thereof is provided a Wire or filament r, surrounding said stylus and extending in opposite directions through the shield p and secured at its ends to angular braces s upon the outside of the shield.

As this invention relates only to the describe either the recording device, or disk actuating mechanism, or that portion of the` apparatus, with which the stylus is espe-V cially adapted to be employed which contains the record making vmaterial or forces the same through the stylus. Y l

While a preferred form of the device has been described, the invention is not limited to the exact details shown., it being possible to make many changes in the device While still embodying all of the essential features or elements characteristic 0f the invention.

What I claim is as follows: 1. A stylus for a sound recording -stylus and its support, it is unnecessary to chine composed of a glass tube drawn to an lsolidify/ing fluid material, said'orifice being of a diameter much less than .005 inch and therefore adapted, when vibrated under tht` influence of sound waves and properly disposed relatively to a surface traveling at' a substantially slower speed than the speed of ejection of said material, to build upon said surface a sound record in distinct relief and of a width substantially greater than the diameter of said discharge orifice.

A st vlus for a sound recording machine consisting of a tube having a capillary bore terminating in a microscopic discharge oritice of substantially less diameter than the average diameter of the capillary bore.

Ll. A stylus for a sound recording machine consisting` of a tube having a capillary bore of very gradual taper and terminating in a microscopic discharge orifice.'

5. A stylus for a sound recording machine consisting of an integral tubular body having a plurality of decreasing crosssectional areas, the smallest of which has a capillary p 7. A stylus for a sound recording machine consisting of a hollow tube and a thimble inclosing the upper end of the tube having an orifice inclosing the tube between its upper and lower end portions.

8. A stylus provided With an enlarged bulbous portion leading through fan inter- 1'0. A stylus provided with an enlarged' buibous portion leading through an intermediate section into a tapering bore having a microscopic outlet, said bulbous and intermediate sections being provided with filtering material.

11. A stylus comprising an .integral structure provided with a bulbous portion containing filtering material, and terminating in a bore having a microscopic outlet.

12. The combination of a liollowtapering stylus, ahthimble' having an outlet through which said stylus extends, and cushion means operative to support said stylus out of contact with said thimble. A

13. The combination of a hollow tapering stylus, a thimble having an outlet'th-rough which said stylus extends,' adjustable means to detachably secure said stylus in said thimble7 and cushion means operative to support said stylus out of contact with said thimble and adjustable securingmeans.

14. The combination of a hollow tapering stylus providedwith filtering material, a thimble having an. outlet through which said stylus extends, means to secure said stylus in said tliimble, cushion means operative to support said stylus out of contact with said thimble, and filtering means between said stylus and said means'for securing it in the thimble.

15. A vibratory stylus provided with av lidi of a brace-piece extending from the shank of the stylus to the point.

17. A stylus composed of glass having; a capillary'bore and drawn to a fine point,

- and means to brace said stylus against vibration in one direction consisting of a glass brace piece extending from the shank of the stylus to the point.

18. A stylus for a sound recording machine formed of an integral body having at its upper end a relatively large chamber open aboveand below and the lower part continuing 1n a relatively small and gradually tapering bore terminating in a microscopic oriiice, the large chamber filled with a tightly fitting filtering material.

19. A stylus for a Sound recording machine consisting of a hollow vibratory tube having an enlarged vhollow portion at one end and a long tapered portion terminating in a microscopic orifice at the other end, and compressed filtering material in the enlarged hollow portion. r

20. A stylus for a sound Arecording machine consisting of. a hollow vibratory tube terminating in a microscopic orifice and having an enlarged bulbous portion at the top containing a filtering material.

21. A stylus for a sound recording machine consisting of a hollow vibratory tube enlarged at the top and having a ,capillary bore terminating in a microscopic oriiice and containing compressed filtering material in said enlargement andcapillarybore.

22. A stylus for a sound recording machine consisting of an integral body in the form of a tube in which the portion adjacent to one end iseoi1 large diameter and relatively non-vibrating and the-portion adjacent to the other end is of smalldiameter terminating in a microscopic orifice and capable of freely vibrating, combined with means 'or supporting the portion of large diameter and means for vibrating the portion of small diameter having the microscopic orifice.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

ROBERT L. GBSON. Witnesses:

R. M. KELLY, ERNEST HOWARD HUNTER. 

